Pikes Peak or Bust...

 

Pikes Peak was our adventure for the day.  It is recorded that this is the most visited mountain in North America and the second most visited mountain in the world just behind Mount Fuji.  We have visited it many times, but, today was just one more journey to take Caden and Kourtney for their first visit and for Andrew, Lauren, and Zachary to revisit this famous mountain.

When we left Woodland Park this morning, the clouds had almost

covered the view of the mountain.

Our drive to Manitou Springs took about 30 minutes and we arrived at the Cog Railway in plenty of time.  The kids had time to make themselves a

souvenir penny.

When it was time, we all boarded the

Aspen Train and waited for the conductor to come by to collect

 

our tickets.

Our trip of 8.9 miles by way of the train took us past

big boulders,

flowers growing above the tree line,

sheep in the clouds, and even the

work train coming down the mountain.

When we were high in the

clouds, we still continued to climb until we finally reached the

summit at 14,115 feet.

We headed in to get what is labeled

 

the world's famous donuts.  Now, there is nothing really spectacular about this donut, except that making a donut at that altitude is pretty unique.  The one thing that you have to do it eat them at the top or they will be flat when you get to the bottom!

After treating ourselves to the Pikes Peak Donut, we headed out to the

observation tower for a few pictures.  However, the

the clouds just wouldn't allow much view today.  We did pick out a few

sheep, but that was all.

So, with just one last

picture, we loaded back on the Aspen Train and soon were making our way down hill!

We didn't get much passed the

lake until all the fun for the day

caught up with Caden!

I think Pikes Peak is a must for everyone and I never get tired to seeing it.  It is no wonder the song

America the Beautiful was penned and named for these beautiful mountains...they are indeed a purple mountain majesty and America's mountain.